Story by Parvel Makona
A 35-year-old man has appeared in court accused of using fake identity documents to fraudulently replace victims’ mobile phone SIM cards and steal thousands of dollars from bank and EcoCash accounts.
Luckmore Matuku is facing fraud-related charges arising from two separate incidents allegedly committed in 2024.
The State alleges that between September 28 and 30, 2024, Matuku and his accomplices obtained a duplicate national identity card bearing the particulars of Forward Mafunde but displaying Matuku’s photograph.
They allegedly used the counterfeit identity document to replace Mafunde’s Econet SIM card, giving them control of his mobile line.
Prosecutors allege the group then withdrew US$10 000 and more than ZiG12 000 from Mafunde’s NBS Nostro and ZiG bank accounts into an EcoCash account under their control.
In a separate case, court papers allege that in August 2024 Matuku and two accomplices conspired to steal the terminal benefits of retired Zimbabwe Republic Police officer Rodwell Muchengadava.
The State alleges they created a fake identity document using Muchengadava’s details, fraudulently replaced his SIM card, accessed his CBZ Bank mobile application and transferred US$11 000 and more than ZiG18 000 from his account into an EcoCash account before cashing out through agents in Harare.
Matuku was arrested in Bulawayo on June 29 while allegedly committing a similar offence before being transferred to the Harare Commercial Crimes Division.
He was granted bail of US$100.
